The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-01-07
UNCLE REUBEN's WILL.


Pretty Dora Darlington looked uE
with q sigh.
Tho last sixpence is gone" she said,
land there isn't any parafiine to cook
dinner with. Nab, what are we going
to doP"
There were several shades OF anxiety
in her face, as she glanced at her sister.
who was even prcttler. and who was
busily arranging mop of curly hair
under rather shabby-looking straw
hat and brown veil.
"All our trinkets arc gone" she add
ed. Eyes, even mammals watch, that we
priced so much. Oh. shall never for
get how the old clock-maker to whom
we took it haggled about the price"
Her sister arched her black eyebrows,
and pursed up her rcd lips, with CORE
spending anxiety; but she answered en-
couragingly:
"Never mind. dear; it amt dinner
time yet, and 1 am going to the Office
to sec If there is any answer to our adj
vertisemcnt There must be one by this
time, think; and. if tho worst come to
tho worst, perhaps the grocer will trust
us for loaf of bread, and the GILMAN
for some parafllnc. We've boon regular
customers. you know"
II don't like getting into debt" said
Dora. prudently. "But it can't always
be holped. suppose. Meanwhile, good
luck 10 you. "
The sisters were orphans They oc-
cupicd tiny back room in the third
story OF hrs. Starkoy's lodging house.
AS long as Nab had kept her situation
as cashier in the store, with 4 salary of
five-and-twenty shillings, they had
managed to keep the wolf from tho
door" A little paralline stove, with one
burner, sufiiced to cook their simple
meals. For the rest, their furniture was
of the plainest and their dress the most
economical Dora did copying and
directed envelopes, whenever she could
get any to do, which was not very Of
ten; but this helped. littlo as it was.
Now, however. Nab had lost her situa-
ton. through the failure OF the firm
where she was employed, and they were
reduced to almost absolute starvation.
But in the meantime Nab had adver-
tised for another situation, and was in
daily hope OF meeting with success.
She was by nature cheerful, and al
ways looked on tho bright side of
things. Yet, so far, her hopes had not
been realized.
"Oh, dear" sighed Dora 10 herself,
as she sat down to mend rent in her
only lawn dress. al do hopo Nab will
get something to-day. II seems as
though"
"Good luck, Doral Good luck! Good
luck!" cried Nab, bursting into the
room, her lips and cheeks glowing
brightly and her hazel-brown eyes
dancing with Joy and excitement ''Oh.
such good luck! You can't begin to
guess It,"
"Have you got q situationa" cried
Dora. excitedly.
"a situationp. No, not shadow OF
one. But I've got something forty times
better. Look" and she held up legal
looking document, which sine had taken
out of a long, yellow envelope.
"What is itp" asked Dora. brcathless-
ly.
"You may well ask what. It's q
copy of Uncle Rcubcn's last will and
testament, in which he beaueaths TO us
his farm in Sussex. And there's three
hundred pounds coming to us besides,
which VIC can got by calling on Lawyer
Pierson Tomorrow" finished Nab, OK
citedly.
.'Oh, Nab! Oh! oh! A house and
farm. and three hundred pounds!"
cried Dora, moro excited now than oven
her sister. well go and live there.
I've always been crazy to live in tho
country, and have two or three acres,
q COW, and some chickens, and gar
den"
"Ycs." broke in Nab, "wc will. But
oh, Dora" with sudden look of
conjunction, "all this time we haven't
thought of poor Uncle Reuben-and
he's dead"
"Why, to be sure VIC have not" an
swered Dora, suddenly becoming seri-
Gus. "But, of course, we are sorry he
died. am, I'm sure. But, then, see
ing we never saw him in our lives, we
couldn't expect to feel very sorry, you
know"
Both the girls tried to keep from feel
ing too elated, as they disposed of their
scanty stock of furniture, and made
preparations to take possession of their
new estate"
A few weeks after, and the sisters
alighted ut the station to which they
had been directed as nearest to the
farm, and asked their way of the
porter.
Mr.. Reuben Boyton's, mum-miss?"
he stammered, gazing admiringly at
the two bright-faced girls who smiled
back at him. Certainly, mum--miss,
should say. You take that there road,
agoing by the mill there, fur about a
mile; an then turn off on the right-hand